Composition and method for treating fingernails and toenails

ABSTRACT

Treating fingernails and toenails to prevent or mitigate brittleness with attendant splitting and breaking and to promote growth and generally enhance the quality of the nail by the topical application of a liquid comprising soybean oil, sunflower oil and vitamin E.

Unite Baldwin States ate 1 1 1 1 June 3, 11975 1 COMPOSITION AND METHODFOR TREATING FINGERNAILS AND TOENAILS [76] Inventor: Mildred Baldwin,1545 Archer Rd.,

Bronx, NY. 10462 [22] Filed: Aug. 30, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 392,970

OTHER PUBLICATIONS Thomssen Modern Cosmetics, 1947, 3rd edition pp.

Sagarin Cosmetics Sci. & Technology, 1957, pp. 709 to 711.

Wells et a1. Cosmetics & The Skin, 1964, pp. 291 to 293,118 and 119.

Winter Handbuch Der Gesamten Parfumeric Und Kosmetic 1952, p. 649.

Primary Examiner-Albert T. Meyers Assistant Examiner-Dale R. OreAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Amster & Rothstein [57] ABSTRACT Treatingfingernails and toenails to prevent or mitigate brittleness withattendant splitting and breaking and to promote growth and generallyenhance the quality of the nail by the topical application of a liquidcomprising soybean oil, sunflower oil and vitamin E.

6 Claims, N0 Drawings l COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR TREATING FINGERNAILSAND TOENAILS This invention relates to an improved method of treatingnails. particularly human fingernails and toenails. and to improvedcompositions which are useful for such treatment. Long fingernails.while widely considered fashionable. are frequently difficult to growand are subject to brittleness, breaking. cracking or splitting. Somefingernail base compositions. nail polish removers, and the like. usedin manicuring. cause fingernails and toenails to become dry and brittle,and susceptible to splitting and breaking. thereby detracting from theappearance of the user. as well as being painful.

It has been suggested to overcome these problems by the use of ahardening agent. Many of the hardening agents have required that nailsbe soaked in chemical solutions for extended periods. then washed anddryed. Other hardening agents are capable of performing the function ina more rapid manner. It hasnow been discovered that the general qualityof the nails can be improved by the topical application of a liquidcomprising soybean oil. sunflower oil and vitamin E. This compositionpromotes the growth of the nail. reduces the amount of splitting andpeeling and generally enhances the quality and appearance of fingernailsand toenails. It also eliminates chalkiness and will restore a healthypink color to discolored nails.

The compositions of this invention comprise soybean oil or sunflower oilcontaining from 200 to 2800 international units of vitamin E per fluidounce of oil. The compositions comprise from 1 to 19 parts. preferablylOto 15 parts, of soybean oil. from 19 to 1 parts. preferably 15 toparts, of sunflower oil and from 200 to 2800 international units.preferably from 1000 to 1500 units. of vitamin E per ounce of oil. Themost preferred composition of this invention contains from 13 to partsof soybean oil and from 7 to 5 parts of sunflower oil and approximately1300 to 1500 international units of vitamin E per fluid ounce of oil.These compositions can be easily made with commercially availableingredients by simply mixing.

The sunflower oil is a vegetable oil which is suitable for use in saladdressing and commonly sold for that purpose. Preferably, the oil is 100%vegetable oil rich in unsaturates and containing no preservatives.Likewise. the soybean oil which is useful in the compositions of thisinvention includes those oils commonly sold for food applications.Vitamin E" are used herein means those products which are commonly soldand labelled vitamin E which includesa tocopherol. a tocopherol beingthe tocopherol having the highest vitamin E biological activity. Thus.for maximum potency. a tocopherol or its acyl esters are employed in thepreparation of the present compositions. However. minor proportionateamounts of non-a tocopherol materials such as 'y tocopherol. 8tocopherol and B-tocopherol or their acyl esters. preferably alkylesters. in admixture with a tocopherol or its acyl esters. can also beutilized and are included with the term vitamin E". The commerciallyavailable vitamin oils are preferred. However. the dry product can beblended with the oils.

These compositions are beneficially applied topically to the fingernailsand toenails even without subsequent applications of nail polish. It isenvisioned. however. that the compositions will be used by themanicurist or at home as part of the treatment for applying polish tothe nails. hi this regard. the composition should be applied with abrush or other suitable implement after the nails have been cleaned anddried and prior to the ap' plication of a base coat of polish.Initially. the compositions should be applied at least 3 times per weekuntil the appearance improves. Usually. the frequency of application canbe reduced to l or 2 times per week after three or four weeks. After thenails have been restored. the compositions should be applied at leastonce per week. It is not necessary to wait until the composition is drybefore applying the base coat; however. one should remove the excessprior to the application of the base coat. The compositions can also beapplied by soaking the fingernails in the compositions. This. however.is not necessary. If soaking is selected as the form of application.however. the soaking can be beneficially maintained for from l to 5minutes at room temperature.

The following examples illustrate the instant invention.

The following compositions are prepared by blending vitamin E with thetwo oils.

Compo- Vitamin E sition Soybean Oil Sunflower Oil International No.Fluid Ounces Fluid Ounces Units l 2 l8 4.000 2 2 l8 l0.000 3 2 l8 28.0004 2 18 56.000 5 6 14 4.000 6 6 l4 l0.000 7 6 l4 28.000 8 6 l4 56.000 9l0 10 4.000 l0 l0 l0 l0.000 l l 10 10 23.000 l2 l0 l0 56.000 13' 14 64.000 14 14 6 10.000 l5 l4 6 28.000 16 14 6 56.000 l7 l8 2 4.000 l 3 l82 10.000 l9 l8 2 28.000 20 l8 2 56.000 2l l3 7 4.000 22 I3 7 10.000 23I3 7 28.000 24 I3 7 56.000 25 0 20 4.000 26 0 20 l 0.000 27 0 20 28.000.28 0 20 56.000 29 20 0 4.000 30 20 0 l0.000 3l 20 0 23.000 32 20 056.000

EXAMPLE I Compositions l -24 are prepared by thoroughly blending theingredients and then used for the topical application to fingernails andtoenails as follows. After cleaning and otherwise preparing the nail.the liquid composition is brushed onto the nail. the excess is removed.and a clear base coat of polish is applied to the nail. As soon as thebase coat dries. nail polish can be applied. This treatment is repeatedthree times per week. Brittle and unsightly nails respond quickly andwithin a few weeks the nails lose brittleness and have a healthyappearance. The best results are achieved with compositions 13 16. Themost preferred is composition number 15.

EXAMPLE n Compositions 32 are prepared by thoroughly blending theingredients. These compositions are applied as described in Example 1.The appearance and health of the nails improve, but to a much lesserdegree than with the treatment with the compositions of Example l.

The invention has been described with particularity. Certain ingredientscan be added without departing from the scope and spirit of thisinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. A composition for improving the quality of fingernails and toenailsconsisting essentially of an effective amount of an oil chosen from thegroup consisting of soybean oil, sunflower oil and combinations thereofcomprising from 1 to 19 parts soybean oil and from 19 to 1 partssunflower oil, and from 200 to 2800 interna- LII tional units of vitaminE per fluid ounce of oil.

2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the oil is sunflower oil.

3. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the oil is soybean oil.

4. A composition for improving the quality of fingernails and toenailsComprising from 1 to 19 parts soybean oil, from 19 to 1 parts sunfloweroil, and from 200 to 2800 international units of vitamin E per fluidounce of oil.

5. A composition for improving the quality of fingernails and toenailsconsisting essentially of from 7 to 5 parts of sunflower oil and from 13to 15 parts of soybean oil and from 1300 to 1500 units of vitamin E perfluid ounce of oil.

6. A method for improving the quality of fingernails and toenailscomprising applying topically to the nails an effective amount of thecomposition of claim 1.

1. A COMPOSITION FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF FINGERNAILS AND TOENAILSCONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF AN EFFECTIVE AMOUNT OF AN OIL COSEN FROM THEGROUP CONSISTING OF SOYBEAN OIL, SUNFLOWER OIL, AND COMBINATIONS THEREOFCOMPRISING FROM 1 TO 19 PARTS SOYBEAN OIL AND FROM 19 TO 1 PARTSSUNFLOWER OIL, AND FROM 200 TO 2800 INTERNATIONAL UNITS OF VITAMIN E PERFLUID OUNCE OF OIL.
 1. A composition for improving the quality offingernails and toenails consisting essentially of an effective amountof an oil chosen from the group consisting of soybean oil, sunfloweroil, and combinations thereof comprising from 1 to 19 parts soybean oiland from 19 to 1 parts sunflower oil, and from 200 to 2800 internationalunits of vitamin E per fluid ounce of oil.
 2. A composition according toclaim 1 wherein the oil is sunflower oil.
 3. A composition according toclaim 1 wherein the oil is soybean oil.
 4. A composition for improvingthe quality of fingernails and toenails comprising from 1 to 19 partssoybean oil, from 19 to 1 parts sunflower oil, and from 200 to 2800international units of vitamin E per fluid ounce of oil.
 5. Acomposition for improving the quality of fingernails and toenailsconsisting essentially of from 7 to 5 parts of sunflower oil and from 13to 15 parts of soybean oil and from 1300 to 1500 units of vitamin E perfluid ounce of oil.